That's not been just suggested, that was the stated aim at first, to keep the peace between the two sides. It was only later that the British Armed force was deemed to be collaborating with union supporters.

but you say there is not enough interesting or intellectual debate on here butch, you raised what could be an interesting point, so i commented on it. you can't have it both ways, this was a chance to get out of what became nothing more than a personal bitching session.

i don't think there would be any issue with the rest of what you put.

this has been well documented also with the stalker enquiry and the chinook crash in scotland which i still personally believe was the government effort to get rid of the last dissenters to the peace process.

still missing comment on the support of the IRA by western governments being similar to that of other 'organisations'

Other than Libya, I don't recall any Western governments that funded any Irish republican armed forces. PAC's and other sympathetic organizations are another matter.

Well - yes. Govts are usually systematically evil.

Didn't some IRA guys get caught somewhere in south america training some rebels. Can't remember which country it was, but I remember it being embarrassing for the republican movement at the time as it was just after 9/11.

I believe they were freelance ex-PRIA volunteers that were being paid to provide knowledge and training to the FARC in Columbia.

no me either, if even you can call libya western. i think butch was alluding to the states and afghanistan, amongst others, french in north africa, etc.

I bet theres a rule somewhere that states you can't start a poll to see how many people want to keep a certain mod or not

was it columbia, thought it was belize for some reason. anyhow what i do recall was it was essentially fund raising/arms supply for the splinter group the Real IRA.

been there on the other mod thread recently, was a resounding no if i recall.

Who'd want the job anyway? No offene to iaink or CO, but it's a suckers job. You don't get paid, you get loads of shit, it takes up time. I fail to see what they get out of it.

The motivation for training the FARC was never really established. It may have simply been a combination of political ideology and personal gain.
There's no evidence that they were members or supporters of the CIRA or RIRA.

No kidding. I think they do a good job under the circumstances, I'd just wish any pejorative comments would cease.

yup theres 99% of them do a good job - I certainly wouldn't do it